Sarah & Peter: 1, Storm: 1

1000km = chain change day! The "old" chains have become 5mm longer after around 77 hours of riding time so far. We plan to change them every 1000km to keep the level of wear and tear evened out rather than riding them into the ground.

We were making good headway into our day's milage when the weather completely turned. It was a hot, breezy morning where even taking the tent down at 9am was a sweaty affair. Suncream on, passing children swimming in rivers.... we stopped to buy groceries for the night and in 15 minutes the sky was black and the wind was raging. We had heard in weather reports that a storm was expected in the late evening, so had hoped we'd make the campsite in time as we had successfully raced off the storm from last week.

The wind got so strong it was literally buffeting the bikes sideways when riding on the road. With so much weight they aren't the easiest to handle in perfect conditions, let alone in rain and wind. Watching Peter wobble about infront of me was worrying and we still had 20km to go to the campsite.

We decided to stop in the next village to look into Plan B..as if waiting for 2 weary bikepakers, we came across a huge glass bus shelter with comfy sofa seats! A good place to spend the next half hour exceeding our daily chocolate quota (on account of the emergency conditions!) And looking for accommodation options. Thankfully the cheapest was also the nearest. Seeing a plank of wood blow out of someones trailer, into the air and then into the road 30m behind was all the justification we needed not to cycle anymore and to seek a warm retreat!

A few nights ago we were inthe woods listening to the night owls, today we have a stuffed one outside our room!! Arrhhhh!!

So happy to not be out in that rain and wind tonight, regarless that the hotel looks like something from "The Shining"!Læs mere